The Airdrie Martial Arts Centre is getting set to host an event featuring and empowering strong women.

The second Women's International Muay Thai 'United Strong Gala' takes place in our city this Saturday ahead of International Women's Day.

Vanessa Bellegarde is the event promoter and says it's all about uplifting and supporting women.

"There's such a powerful movement going on this month," Bellegarde says. "Everyone's representing women, girl power, strong girls. It's a pretty good vibe going on right now which also helps the event be so successful."

Last year's event attracted some of the top female fighters from Canada and the U.S. and this year is bigger and better, says Airdrie Martial Arts Centre Head Coach Luis Cofre.

He says holding the gala in conjunction with International Women's Day is significant. 

"The movement itself has gained a lot of momentum, and especially in the sports world where Muay Thai, just in the last 20 some odd years has only started to get recognized as a world sport. Women were only allowed to compete for the very first time in Thailand in 1999," says Cofre. "Now that it's 2020, there are more female athletes competing in Muay Thai and this is a great platform to showcase their skills."

One of the fighters who will be on the card this Saturday is Airdrie's very own Dominique Matte.

Born and raised in Golden, B.C, Matte lived in Red Deer for a number of years before moving to Airdrie about two years ago. She has a background in karate and has been Muay Thai fighting for the past four years.

She says she's thrilled to be part of the 'United Strong Gala' in the place she now calls home. 

"My last fight was at one of their cards as well, about three years ago. Now finally being able to train hard and get back into it, and being on an all women's card. Girls from the States coming too, it is such an honour to be able to be part of this huge, huge card," Matte says.

Muay Thai has come a long way in recent years when it comes to female fighters.

"I remember when I first started getting interest in Muay Thai, you were lucky to have one female fight on a card," says Matte. "It was overrun by men and now the whole card is based on women, so it's huge now."

Matte has been training hard, both physically and mentally, to compete at Saturday's event.

"You have to be all in or not at all. You can't fake Muay Thai. You can't take any shortcuts. You have to give it your all, you have to do the work," she says. "All the hours in the gym. Even when you're not in the gym, it matters what you eat, what you drink, what you do. It all matters on that day when you fight."

Tickets for the 'United Strong Gala' can be found HERE.

 

Comments? Questions? Story ideas? Email news@discoverairdrie.com